Vs Head Vs Heart

Being fearless is often the hardest thing for an artist to do. Surrounded by expectation and anticipation many second guess themselves, take the safe option but not Brisbane s Emma Louise. Just a few years into a creative career already blessed with highlights, Emma Louise is an artist not just controlling her destiny, but reshaping expectations. And it s a feeling that dominates her debut full length album vs Head vs Heart . Where some might try to stack the record with ready-made radio tunes, Emma Louise has created a collection of songs that offers so much more. Considered, focused, unhurried and with real poise the album showcases an artist who is determined not to miss the opportunity to do something genuine. Emma Louise knows that hitting that mark can often just take a little time and patience case in point she spent two months in late 2012 soaking up the sights and sounds of New York City. Produced in the Brisbane studio of Matt Redlich (Hungry Kids of Hungary, Ball Park Music) making the album has been an unhurried affair giving Emma Louise the space and time to try new ideas and stretch her imagination. Nothing was off limits. The first taste of the record came with last year s single Boy a strikingly simple track that manages to straddle classic pop writing with a sense of understated exploration. The more you listen to that track, the more new layers keep revealing themselves a theme that rings true across the whole album. Emma Louise doesn t want to hit you over the head with big hooks, rather she wants her songs to draw you in, make you dig deeper and walk away with a lasting impression. Disposable is not in her vocabulary. The time in New York also gave her room to pause and reflect on what s been a surprising few years. It wasn t that long ago that Emma Louise was like so many young artists writing songs and uploading them online from her bedroom in the regional city of Cairns. Then, at just 16, came her star turn in the Queensland Music Awards and everything changed. She moved to Brisbane, immersed herself in the city s creative community, and emerged with one of 2011 s most talked about EPs Full Hearts and Empty Rooms. Tucked within that impressive debut release was a track called Jungle which went on to be one of the stand out songs of the year landing at #23 on the national Triple J Hottest 100 and helping propel the EP to Gold sales status. While Jungle (also included on the full length) may have been the break out song, it was much more than that one track which built the feeling that this was an artist to watch. With a live show that swings between euphoric and heartbreaking anyone that connected with her music could see Emma Louise was truly something else. On stage Emma Louise does so much more than simply run through her songs in stripped back duo format or with her full band she sees the stage as a chance to redefine her music and bring something new every time she performs. And it hasn t been just Australian audiences that have connected with her music standout shows around the globe included sets at SXSW, The Great Escape and CMJ Festivals. Much more than just a career milestone, that overseas touring has broadened her horizons as an artist and opened a new world of possibilities.